Skid shoe



Oct. 26, 1943. Q BALL 2,332,550

SKID SHOE Filed June 15, 1942.

Patented Oct. 26, 1943 :SKID SHOE Charles A. Ball, deceased, late ofValparaiso, 1nd,, by Louise F. Ball, administratrix, Valparaiso, Ind.

A plication-lune 15, 1942, Serial No. 447,029 (01. 214-18) fl/Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in skid shoes or saddles adaptedto overcome skid markings on articles that are being passed through afurnace and it more especially comprises the features pointed out in theclaims.

The purpose of the invention is to provide an exceedingly simple andeffective means for eliminating skid bar marks formed on articles thatare being pushed through a furnace when such articles are only supportedon skids; that provides shoes or saddles to slide on triangular or otherangular shaped skids; that utilizes the simplest means in standardizedform which employs reversible ended shoes of the same cross sectionthroughout their length for immediate use from the foundry withoutsubjecting them to any machining operations whateverjthat assembles theshoes in pairs opposite each other, one on each of two parallel skids intandem with other pairs on the same skids throughout the length of thefurnace; that utilizes a pair of shoes loaded by the same articles suchas slice bars, etc., placed transversely of the skids to beintermittently pushed forward into the furnace and be intermittentlypushed out of the furnace.

With these and other ends in view there is illustrated such an instanceof adaptation that will show the broad underlying features without beinglimited to the specific details shown thereon and described herein.

Fig. l is a diagrammatic elevation through a furnace with its skids andshoes and pushing means.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross section of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged end elevation of a saddle and askid bar insection.

Fig. 4 is a semi-perspective of a shoe.

Fig. 5 shows splice bars assembled on a shoe.

In carrying the invention into practice there may be used whatevermodifications that. the exigencies of varying conditions may demandwithout departing from the broad spirit of the invention.

The reversible saddles or shoes may be used within any desired furnacein which separate fabricated steel parts, bars etc., may be subjected toa second heat-treatment after having been formed originally, withoutproducing any telltale skid marks on the product. This is accomplishedby a conventional furnace l, in which two or more parallel rows of skids2 of any desired type of construction may be placed on continuous watercooled sub skids 3. Two upper faces of these skids are V shaped atapproximately 90 to receive the similar shaped lower portion of the mainskids 2. Suitable pier-like supports 4 are placed beneath each line ofskids.

Any well known conventional pusher 5 is used. At the delivery end aninclined chute 6 leads the shoes into a cooling pit from where they maybe returned to the entry end by hand barrow or in any other way. Theindividual shoes I are approximately twelve inches long, though this maybe changed to suit difierent conditions. They comprise two sides joinedtogether to form an inverted V. The apex 8 is rounded and the loweredges of the sides are also rounded at 9. The underside of the point ofthe V, opposite 8, at I0 is also rounded. This form of structure, onaccount of its simplicity makes it possible to use the saddles just asthey come from the foundry without machining operations of any kind.Splice bars for railroad rails II or similar articles of varying lengthsare placed on the shoes transverse of the skids.

The presence of skid marks on the products of steel mills is anoticeable defect which has attracted the attention of engineers, tosuch an extent that special I beam form of skid bars with similarlyshaped riders, have been proposed and machined throughout their lengthto conform to the cross section of the T portion of the I beam; othershave designed specially formed riders, with up turned material limitingprojections; and others have sought a solution by forming sheet metalsaddles with up turned flanges transverse of the skids. The invention inits utmost simplicity and the absence of all machining provides anarticle of wide commercial use and value.

The cross sectional area of the shoes used by applicant is approximatelythe same as the cross section of the skid bar on which the shoes slide.Naturally a furnace provided with a continuous length of heat absorbingskid bars supplemented by a continuous length of shoes will tend to holdthe temperature at a more equalized rate than if the materials wereplaced directly on theskid bars. The number of shoes used will of coursedepend upon the length of the furnace. feet long then obviously at 12inches for each shoe there would be forty in the furnace to occupy itsentire length at the same time. For. each time that the material and theshoes are pushed forward a distance slightly greater than the length ofa shoe the pusher then returns to its original I position when anothershoe and its lead of material is positioned on ahead of the pusher.After a full stroke is made of the pushing block at the same timeagainst both line of shoes the backward movement of the block providesan open or blank If forty.

space for the placement of a pair of shoes brought from the delivery endof the furnace and loading them.

As a, matter of fact the entire operation of a furnace provided withthese shoes can be made semi-automatic to facilitate an increase in thevolume of production. This can be accomplished simply in the useof wellknown manual or mechanical expedients by dropping the shoes onto theskid bars 6 in front of the pusher 5. The shoes are loaded while thepusher 5 is idle.

In contrast to the complexity of expedients for avoiding skid marks onmaterials passing through a furnace this construction is so basiclysimple that the cost of producing the carrying shoes is a minimum andskid marks are entirely eliminated.

What is claimed is:

l. A heat treating furnace which comprises a pair of continuouslengthwise suitably supported skid bars having angularly disposedbearing faces,

a plurality of interengaging shoes having two bearing facescomplementary to and resting on said skid bars, means for pushing loadedshoes through the furnaceintermittently and in continuous contact witheach other, the top surface of theshces corresponding approximately tothe angular under surface of the shoes, thus forming an inverted Vshaped cross section.

2. A reversible shoe having a uniform cross section throughout itslength for use on furn ce skid bars having two angularly disposed bearinfaces, said shoe having an inverted V cross secti n complementary to thetwo bearing faces of s id skid bar on which the shoe is to slide, thecross sectional area of the shoe approximating that of the skid bar.

LOUISE F. BALL. Administratria: of the Estate of Charles A. Ball,

Deceased.

